Officer guilty of assault

 A POLICE officer in East New Britain has been found guilty by the National Court in Kokopo of sexually assaulting a woman detained at the police station cell.

Senior Sergeant Hubert Bapum, 52, of Woginara village, Wewak, East Sepik will have to wait until February 29 to know of his penalty.

He appeared before Justice Selatiel Lenalia last Friday at the National Court in Kokopo.

Lenalia adjourned the case to give time to the lawyer to make submissions on the sentence of the officer.

The woman was locked up at the police station after being accused of causing the death of her husband, and was being detained for her safety at the Kerevat police station in Gazelle district. She told the court that Bapum touched her breasts and private parts against her wish.

Lenalia said the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Bapum committed the offence.